Tag Archives: Multicultural

September 15, 2023 · 7:00 am

Shinning Bright A Journey of Dreams by Kiana Frederick (Book Review)

This book tells the story of Maya, a little black girl with big dreams. Maya loves to dance and dreams of performing on a stage, inspiring others with her talent. One day, she meets a wise old tree who encourages her to believe in herself and trust her heart. With newfound courage, Maya practices tirelessly and catches the attention of a famous dance crew who invites her to join them. Her story spreads far and wide, inspiring other little black girls to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams. Maya’s journey teaches the importance of determination, self-belief, and the power to inspire others. The book encourages young black girls to dream big, knowing that they are capable of achieving greatness and making a positive impact in the world.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Maya loved to dance and aspired to dance across a stage one day. She wanted to inspire others with her movements, which was a beautiful dream. One day, Maya met a wise old tree who whispered, “Believe in yourself.” The wise tree did precisely what every adult, friend, and family member should do, encouraging our youth to follow their heart. 

Maya found her courage and determination to practice. And with each step, each twirl, she became closer to achieving her dream. Maya leaped across the stage and into my heart. She was a shining role model and beautifully demonstrated what one can achieve. 

Maya’s talent caught the eye of a famous dance crew, and with that, the young star’s life’s goal was achieved: Maya danced across the stage and inspired little black girls to follow their passions. 

Doctor. Artist. Astronaut. World leader. Pilot. Shinning Bright A Journey of Dreams proudly proclaims, “No dream is too big, no goal is too high, with determination and love, they’ll reach for the sky.” What a wonderful message! We should all support children wherever life takes them, whether they want to be stay-at-home parents, musicians, teachers, scientists, etc. 

Kiana Frederick wrote an inspirational story that children and adults would love to read together. It encourages young black girls to dream big, knowing they can achieve greatness and make a positive impact in the world. Every child has the capacity for greatness, and Maya’s story can motivate every gender, every color, and every child to believe in themselves, trust their heart, and follow their dreams. 

With the storybook’s lovely message and artwork, I recommend Shinning Bright A Journey of Dreams to children 3-9. Speaking of the paintings, I appreciated the children were not cartoon-looking. Their realness only heightens the story’s profound message and helps readers connect more with Maya’s journey. 

Share this book with your child and help them reach for the stars! 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

As a young woman and first-time children’s book author, found my inspiration after welcoming my daughter into the world. With love as my guiding force, I have embarked on a journey to create a magical and heartwarming story that would captivate young minds and celebrate joy.

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March 6, 2023 · 7:00 am

Ganesha’s Cramped Statue (Stories about Indian Festivals Book 3 by Mayuri Amarnath (Book Review)

With its bold and colorful illustrations, Ganesha’s Cramped Statue is a delightful way for children of all ages to learn about Indian culture and appreciate its grand festivals.

It is Ganesh Chaturthi and Ganesha, the elephant-headed Indian God, is so excited. It is his birthday and believers from all around the world will celebrate him for 10 whole days. There will be prayers, delicious food, and special yummy laddus made just for him. It is a huge festival and every year he parties with his devotees by going down to earth and living in one of his biggest, most lavish statues.

This year is no different. Ganesha is all set to go down to earth to bask in the glory of people’s admiration. He jumps into the river Sarasvati. But wait. What just happened? He is stuck. This is not the best statue on earth. He is stuck in a dingy, cramped statue. How is he going to get out?

In this fresh take on Ganesha Chaturthi, Ganesha, the Remover of Obstacles, has to overcome his own obstacles with the help of his new friends Khalid and Kabir.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Did you know Ganesha is an elephant-headed Indian God? I didn’t, and I know this will be new information for many children and adults (like myself) too. The image of the Indian God will amaze young readers because Ganesh not only has the head of an elephant, but he also stands upright and has 12 arms (page 3).

In Ganesha’s Cramped Statue by Mayuri Amarnath, it’s festival season, and millions of people travel and pray to the Indian God while eagerly awaiting his appearance. They are optimistic that the god’s spirit will land in the 50-foot statue that honors him yearly. Ganesha was looking forward to the week-long festival, powering up from his worshippers because, without their prayers, he won’t have the strength to rejoin his body. However, things didn’t go as planned. Poor Ganesha’s spirit didn’t get inside the enormous statue of the temple. 

Some text on pages 15 and 16 was difficult to read due to its placement and color compared to the background color. Some words were written on the window trim, making them nearly impossible to read on the file. There were also words used in the story that I was unfamiliar with and weren’t clearly illustrated: laddu and biryani. I had to look up those two words and mandap. I’m assuming the author wants all children worldwide to read this, so they need to explain and illustrate sections, so those not in that culture understand what the foreign words mean. 

The illustrations showed Ganesha with twelve arms and later on four. This confused me, so I did a bit of research. I discovered that the god is typically seen with four but can have many more. While the information after the story about Ganesha Chaturthi was informative, I wanted to know more about the festival. I discovered that the festival date varies. This year it happened in August, and next year it’s projected to occur in September. 

Learning about other cultures is important, so parents and educators should share this book with their children and class. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Mayuri Amarnath is an Aerospace Engineer by education, a teacher by profession, and an author at heart. She grew up in a traditional South Indian family and now writes stories about Hindu Gods and their festivals. Her stories bring a new perspective to these ancient celebrations.

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November 28, 2022 · 7:00 am

Marco, Pablo, & Olivia Volume One: Bella The Alpaca (Story Two) by Ana Cortes (Book Review)

Meet the Costa kids. . .Marco, Pablo, and Olivia are two brothers and a sister who came from the mountains of Ecuador. The three kids grew up in a farmhouse with their parents and very little means. After their dad got a high-paying job, Marco, Pablo, Olivia, and their parents moved to the coast for a fresh start.

The Costa siblings’ lives turn into a wild ride when they make new friends, set on adventures, celebrate traditions, deal with rivals, embark on journeys, and experience things they never thought they could have experienced.

Marco, Pablo, & Olivia is a crafted book filled with nine stand-alone mini-stories that feature Ecuador’s beautiful culture, morality, and magic!

Story Two
Pablo loves animals more than anybody loves their pets. Back in Loja, the Costa siblings had some lovely yet messy dogs for pets, but they will never forget that one special animal they had. A magical alpaca! Pablo tells a flashback story to Diego about how he tried to adopt the magical alpaca, but it was against his parent’s rule to have pets.

 


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Marco, Pablo, & Olivia: Bella The Alpaca by Ana Cortes is a children’s graphic novel about two brothers and a sister who have come from the mountains of Ecuador. At the tale’s start, we learn the siblings have been in Guayaquil for five days. Guayaquil’s pronunciation and background information might be unfamiliar to many children in the recommended reading age bracket: of 8-13 years. An internet search will give questioning children all the information they seek. 

As the story progresses, we learn about Bella, the magical alpaca who resides in Loja. Loja, like Guayaquil, might be unheard of to some. It was to me. Therefore, I quickly searched to learn more about this location. I would suggest looking up this city with your young reader/listener. Knowledge is power!

As I delved back into the story, I learned more about Bella. She’s unlike any alpaca you’d seen before! Her unique abilities will amaze young readers: she can talk and fly. Bella tells the young trio she’s a homeless alpaca. As a pet owner, Bella’s predicament touched my heart. I bet it’ll touch yours too. 

Marco, Pablo, & Olivia: Bella The Alpaca had tender moments, danger, action, and adventure. After you read this story, it’s important to stress to your child or class that sneaking out of your home is dangerous. You never know the trouble you’ll run into. Plus, your family will worry about you. This story had a happy ending, but not all real stories do. I would stress to young listeners that they should give a heartfelt apology if they do something wrong. The overall message was lovely: your parents will love you no matter what. 

Marco, Pablo, & Olivia: Bella The Alpaca did have some words in Spanish and required outside assistance in background information, but overall the story was lovely. I recommend this story to families with children currently enrolled in elementary school.

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

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Meet the Author

My name is Ana! I live in Orange County I am currently working on Marco, Pablo, & Olivia volume one, while studying at community college. My first book is available on Amazon! I love comics, cartoons, desserts, and movies!


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September 16, 2022 · 7:00 am

Sweet Love by Iman Osman (Book Review)

Sweet Love is a compilation of classic desserts handed down from one generation to the next. It is the way Iman’s family connect, sharing and making new memories. The intention behind this book is to revive bonding, love, appreciation, and connection throughout generations of families through the love of baking.

Amazon Purchase Link

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

“Sweet Love is a compilation of classic desserts handed down from one generation to the next. The intention behind this book is to revive bonding, love, appreciation, and connection throughout generations of families through the love of baking.” – Iman Osman

The author’s intent with Sweet Love is to bring her kids and her mother together over our shared love for food, for the timeless desserts that her grandmother has passed down to them. I couldn’t wait to see what seasonal and nonseasonal desserts Iman had shared. 

Iman Osman did not only offer recipes; they also shared tips. For starters, they instructed readers on what to use in place of ghee, how to properly cut and store a vanilla bean, and dividing a cake. As a fan of cooking and baking shows, I’ve seen bakers (professionally and home cooks) attempt to do the perfect split. I haven’t tried it myself, but I think it’s time to try it using Iman’s instructions. 

Iman Osman’s family recipes look divine. Oh, how I wish I could reach inside my laptop and pull out the beaters. I bet the chocolate ganache tasted delicious. 

My family loves raspberry jam, so I know they will be thrilled if they see me making fresh jam for them. With only three ingredients, the recipe will be easy on the wallet. Since I have never made fresh jam before, I appreciated all the “Tips and Tricks” and the storing information. 

The “Linzer Cookie” also looked yummy and activated my sweet tooth. I will have to try it this winter. Thank you, Iman, for the “How to assemble a Linzer Cookie.” You took the guesswork out of the process! 

There are numerous mouth-watering recipes in Sweet Love. Chocolatey, fruity, custards, pudding, biscuits, cheesecake, cookies, nutty—Iman has that and much more! 

This book contained recipes for desserts that I have tried before in my home and through travels. It also had desserts I’ve only seen on television and longed to try, such as “Granita” and “Kunafa.” With Iman’s how-to images, tips, and suggestions, I feel empowered to take them all on. My family will thank you; my waistline, not so much. 

Sweet Love is the perfect book for any time of year. So, grab your apron, and let’s serve something sweet for your family tonight! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link
Reedsy Author Link

 

 

 

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April 13, 2022 · 7:00 am

Kai the Dancing Butterfly by Crystal Z. Lee (Book Spotlight / Author Interview)

KAI THE DANCING BUTTERFLY by Crystal Z. Lee
 
 
Kai and Ami are dancing butterflies from Taiwan! They have a performance coming up at the Winter Festival dance show in the southern part of the island. They are currently in northern Taiwan, so they need to hurry and start flying south. That’s far for a butterfly! Kai is worried about the long journey, and about the big show too. Can Kai step up to the challenge?

Kai the Dancing Butterfly celebrates Taiwan’s natural scenic wonders, amazing animal species, and incredible Indigenous cultures. This children’s book is a marvelous read for all those who love Taiwan, or for those who’d like to learn more about Taiwanese culture. This elaborately illustrated picture book makes an ideal gift:

*Real locations in Taiwan make for an inspiring geography, history and cultural lesson

*Storyline sparks dialogue around empathy, kindness, courage, faith, perseverance, friendship, and the support between siblings

*Exquisite illustrations of Taiwan’s majestic animals and endangered species fosters learning around ecological conservation and habitat protection

 
BUY THE BOOK:
AMAZON ~ B&N 
IndieBound ~ BAM
add the goodreads
 
 
 
 
 

Author Crystal Z. Lee

 

Crystal Z. Lee is a bilingual writer who grew up in Taiwan and California. She has called many places home, including Taipei, New York, Shanghai, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Crystal is also the author of the children’s book A Unicorn Named Rin, and the novel, Love and Other Moods. 

​connect with the author:  instagram ~ goodreads

 
 
 

Topic: Taiwanese Inspiration for Writing

Q: What was your inspiration for Kai the Dancing Butterfly? Why butterflies?
A: Taiwan has over 400 species of butterflies, 50 of which are endemic to the island! Taiwan is also home to the beautiful purple crow butterfly population, which makes up one of the planet’s largest butterfly migration overwintering congregation. My children and I adore butterflies, so I was inspired to write a children’s book about this unique butterfly species from Taiwan, where I grew up as a child.
 
 
Q: There are many Taiwanese locations in Kai the Dancing Butterfly. Which ones are favorites? 
A: Sun Moon Lake is one, because of the very fond memories I have from boating and vacationing there. Another favorite spot is Yehliu Geopark, where you can find sandstone rock formations sculpted naturally by the wind and sea. I still remember my grandfather taking us there.

 

Q: What other special animal species are featured in Kai the Dancing Butterfly, besides butterflies?
A: The Taiwanese black bear, Formosan clouded leopard, Taiwanese blue magpie, Formosan landlocked salmon, Mikado pheasant, Formosan rock macaques, etc. There are many unique animals found only in Taiwan. 

 

Q: Favorite Taiwanese films or movies based in Taiwan?
A: Some recent Taiwanese movies I’ve enjoyed: American Girl, Dear Ex, My Missing Valentine.

 

Q: Favorite and not-so-favorite aspects about Taiwan?
A: I love how friendly the people are in Taiwan, how delicious the food is, and how beautiful the sights are. It’s home to me. 
One aspect I wish was different would be their dependence on plastic. Boba tea is everywhere in Taiwan and they mostly come in plastic containers. I do hope someday a more sustainable material will replace that. 

 

Q: What was your inspiration for the emphasis on Taiwanese Indigenous tribal clothing in the illustrations? 
A: I collaborated with illustrator Allie Su, who, like me, also grew up in Taiwan. We researched special Taiwanese Indigenous attire and incorporated them into the story. It’s our hope that this story can shed light on the plight of Indigenous tribes in Taiwan.
 
 
​
Meet the Illustrator:

Allie Su was born and raised in Yunlin county, Taiwan. She attended Nanhua University in Chiayi city, majoring in Visual Arts. She is a professional illustrator, specializing in oil painting and ink painting. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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